The craze is mutual, she adds, “I have friends and customers, who often go to Pakistan to shop for clothes for special occasions. I have a client, Roshni, who has been to Pakistan innumerable times for shopping. “All of the special occasions in their family are famous for showcasing Indian and Pakistani designer clothes side by side,” she says.

Anjali Kapoor, a boutique owner, says clothes done in vegetable dyes too are a big hit with the Pakistani public. “In fact, each state has its own specialty, which has of late been attracting many Pakistani customers,” she explains. She says that as far as Indians’ craze for Pakistani threads is concerned, their bridal wear is more in demand in India these days. The intricate thread, gold and glasswork, which is done by village women in Pakistan, is also very popular here as these are rare in India, she adds.

Hina Anjum, a designer from Pakistan, who recently held an exhibition in Amritsar, says Pakistani designers see better prospects in India, because of which many of them are coming here to hold exhibitions and look for customers. During her four tours to India she has gathered a large number of clients, particularly politicians. “Durability is another factor that comes into the equation here,” she says. “Nadia Lakdawala is a known name in India now as she has held several exhibitions in India and also proposes to enter the Indian market in a more direct manner,” she says.

Hina says the craze can well be judged from the fact that the orders that she received during her recent exhibition in Delhi far outnumbered what she had received barely a couple of months ago. “I have been flooded with orders of designer suits, particularly items that can be given away as gifts,” she says.

... contd.